MEDIA RELEASE: IJR CALLS ON SA TO REACTIVATE THE STALLED PEACE PROCESS IN SOUTH SUDAN

MEDIA RELEASE: IJR CALLS ON SA TO REACTIVATE THE STALLED PEACE PROCESS IN SOUTH SUDAN

IJR CALLS ON SA SPECIAL ENVOY TO SOUTH SUDAN, DEPUTY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, TO EXPLAIN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUDAN PEOPLE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT IN OPPOSITION (SPLM-IO) LEADER RIEK MACHAR’S LONG-TERM STAY AND STATUS IN SOUTH AFRICA. AND TO OPENLY COMMUNICATE SOUTH AFRICA’S PLAN TO REACTIVATE THE STALLED PEACE PROCESS IN SOUTH SUDAN

The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) and its South African civil society partners who have been supporting the South Sudan peace process for many years, call on the South African government and in particular the SA Special Envoy to South Sudan, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, to communicate to the public, the initiatives that it is undertaking to reactivate the stalled peace process in South Sudan.

In particular, we call on the government to openly and transparently explain the terms and conditions of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) leader Riek Machar’s long-term stay and status in South Africa, which remains shrouded in mystery, and fuels confusion among actors who are actively working to promote peace in South Sudan.

Based on almost two decades of working on political transitions, IJR is of the view that in order to sustainably resolve the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, all the key stakeholders need to be convened around a common table. The exclusion of any of the key stakeholders from the peacemaking process, will further prolong efforts to resolve the fundamental political issues and will prevent South Sudan from moving onto a path towards sustainable peace and inclusive governance.

IJR is prepared to work collaboratively with Special Envoy Ramaphosa, and its network of civil society partners, to advance the genuine interests of peacebuilding in South Sudan.